Copying of lenticular film



April 18,1939. M ADAM. '2,155,075

COPYING OF LENTICULAR FILM Filed Aug, 18, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l UDUUUUUUUUI Arrow/ey April 18, 1939. M. ADAM 2,155,075

` coPYING oF LENTICULAR FILM Filed Aug. 18, 19:57 2 sheets-sheet 2 I RTT@ rive. 7'

Patented Apr. 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application August 18, 1937, Serial No. 159,839 In Germany August 27, 1936 12Claims.

The invention relates to the copying of lenticular films on to copy nlms of similar lenticulation,

and more particularly to a method oi bringing the lenticulations of the original and copy films into register.

As is known a lenticular iilm is one having on its rear side, i. e. the side away from the emulsion, an embossed pattern of closely adjacent microscopic lenses, usually cylindrical. The film is exlo posed through the lenticular support with an appropriately divided colour illter at the diaphragm position, and the eflect of the elementary lenses is to subdivide each point of the picture into a suitable number of closely adjacent points corre- 5 spending to the primary colours adopted. In copying such a nlm itis of the greatest importance that these individual colour-component points should have the same location in relation to the lenticular elements in the copy as they had in the original filmwhich may be a negative.

On account of the very minute dimensions oi' the lenticulations, amounting to 28 to 43 microns, it has been found necessary in all copying methods propos'ed hitherto to dispense with accurate registration of the lenticulations between original and copy. No satisfactory results could be achieved in this way.

The object of the present invention is to ensure accurate register between the lenticulations of original and copy and accordingly the correct position of the colour-component points in the copy film in relation to its lenticulation. According to the invention this result is attained by pro-y viding both original and copy iilms on one or both sides near the actual picture field with markings corresponding to the lenticular elements such as stripes at the same distance apart as the lenticular elements. These marks are then projected together on an enlarged scale on to a screen so that adjustments can be made in dependence on the combined image so produced. If copying is effected through an objective it is possible to adjust the objective and either or both i'llms to get the films into register,

According to a further feature of the invention the marks may be produced by partial grinding,

milling or planing oi' the lenticular elements at4 the part of the film in question, so that ilat strips are formed with depressions between them which can be used as marks. Before or after thegrinding the emulsion is removed at the position oi the marks, or the silver or silver salt is dissolved out to render the nlm transparent at these parts. The edges of the film lcan also be madetranspar- M ent if the nlm is exposed to strong light at the edges before, during or after the exposure, so that all the silver is reduced at the first development and is washed out before the second development.

It is advantageous, instead of adopting special measures of this kind, to use for both original and l copy lms prepared so that there is no emulsion on. the marginal parts, which are thus permanently transparent.

The registration can be facilitated by colouring the stripes or the interstices between them or 10 by filling them with a paste by means of a scraper.

It transparent colours are used it is advantageous to use different colours for the two illms such as yellow on the original and blue on the copy. In this case accurate register is indicated by the 15 stripes in the projection showing in the mixture colour, say green, only. Any want of register will show as fringing, that is each stripe will be say yellow at one side and blue at the other.

A diiliculty which' occurs in copying lenticular 20 film is that the shrinkage of the two films may be different, so that the two sets of lenticulations do not register all over even when they do so at one place. With longitudinal lenticulations this difilculty can be overcome according to a further feau ture of the invention by providing both margins outside the picture spaces withmarkings and by projecting both sets of markings on to the screen to obtain two stripe images which must both be brought into register. With transverse lenticulation the dimculty is overcome by making the slit through which exposure is eii'ected so narrow that any diilerence oi' shrinkage over the length of film corresponding to the slit width becomes negligible.

Another difficulty occurring in the copying of lenticular iilm is the watering or moir eiIect which is due to the combination of two sets oi.' lenticulations which do not quite register. Even a very small difference is sumcient to produce a pattern like that of watered silk. u

According to a further feature of the invention this diillculty is overcome by removing the lenticulations on the part of the original illm occupied by the actual picture, of course after the exposure a has been made. The removal of the lenticulation may be permanent. In this case the lenticulation is removed before copying by grinding, milling, planing or by any other suitable mechanical treatment or even by suitable chemical treatment u of the i'llm surface.

It is also possible to remove, or at least obliterate, the lenticulation by filling up the interstices level with some transparent material having the same index of refraction as the nlm support. If 5l a volatile substance is used as nller the obliteration of the lenticulation is only temporary.

A suitable arrangement for carrying out the method of the inventim may comprise one or two auxiliary objectives for projecting vone or both nlm margins on an enlarged scale on to a screen, together with regulating devices for adjusting at least one nlm gate and as the case may be the oOPying objective so that the markings projected are brought into register.

For the purpose of nne adjustment the nlm gate for the original nlm and the objective are in the preferred construction movable by means of a handwheel through a positive reduction drive. The objective can also be moved sideways by similar means.

Any difference between the directions of lenticulation in the two nlms would give rise to a relative lead or lag between the images of the elements and this detect can be overcome by the use of pivoted optical nats placed in the light path.

The pivoting movement of these nats can be controlled by cams so cut that one complete revolution provides compensation equal to the width of one lenticular element. One pair of optical flats is connected to a handwheel through its associated cams in such a way that on turning the handwheel one way one nat is moved and on moving it the other way the other one is moved.

Arrangements are also made for the objective not only to be adjusted longitudinally and transversely to the optical axis but also for its sliding support to be urged by a spring with the interposition of a roller against a pivoting lever adjustably mounted on the adjustable sliding support.

The arrangement according to the invention can also be made to operate automatically by projecting the markings of the nlms on to photoelectric cells connected through relays to the adjusting means for the nlm gate and the objective. When the markings are in register the adjustment is not operated, but on the occurrence of any deviation the approprate adjustment is effected automatically. When different colours are used for the markings on the two nlms, such as yellow for the original and blue for the copy one photo-electric cell may be made to respond preferentially to one colour and one to the other, while the mixture colour does not cause the cells to respond.

The arrangement for making contact copies of nlms with transverse lenticulation may comprise in the nlm guide for the continuously moving nlms a window at each end of the copying slit, through which the register markings are projected on an enlarged scale on to a screen. The films can be moved longitudinally in relation to each other and can also be relatively pivoted during their travel in the neighbourhood of the copying slit. The copy nlm has a springurged bar pressed against one edge and its other edge abuts against a nxed bar, both these bars projecting above the gate surface by only the thickness of the nlm. The original nlm is guided by similar bars, one spring-urged and the other pivoted to adjust the nlm direction.

It is advantageous to insert in the light path in front of the actual image of the copy nlm an interchangeable optical device which acts only on the image space. The object of the optical device is to compensate for the displacement o! the individual colour records in relation to the corresponding elements of the lenticulation due to the diiierence in optical data as between the taking and reproducing apparatus. Such optical devices may be for instance interchangeable optical nai's of different thicknesses and of such dimensions that they act only on the picture neld but not on the registration marks. It is also possible to use for the same purpose convex or concave cylindrical or spherical lenses oi' various focal lengths, but still limited in action to tbepicture area. A further alternative is a stepped glass plate having the same thickness opposite the registration marks but different thickness opposite the picture area.

A further consideration has to be borne in mindin order to produce satisfactory copies. The lenticular nlm available commercially exhibits a constantly varying angle between the direction of lenticulation and the nlm edges. The consequence is that in the projection of such nlms, especially with a high degree of enlargement, the lenticulation marks constantly swing to and fro. This drawback is overcome by a further feature of the invention. The nlm is nrst cut by the usual means to a width a few millimeters over the standard. The nlm strips are then passed through a device which cuts the nlm to the correct width and at the same time impresses it with the lenticulation. An arrangement suitable for this purpose comprises an impression roli and a counter-pressure roll together with cutting discs nanking the rolls. Instead of nat cutting discs it is possible to use dished discs mounted on oblique spindles so that the nlm only passes the cutting edges once.

Further details oi' the invention are given in the subsequent description of some forms of construction to be used in connection with the invention and shown in the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is an lenticular nlm,

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the apices of the lenticular elements, ground on,

Figure 3 illustrates a part of the projected enlarged cross section of a image of the registration marks before they are quite in register,

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic representation of an arrangement according to the invention for copying by optical means nlrns with longitudinal lenticulation,

Figure 5 is a piece of nlm with longitudinal lenticulation to illustrate the wandering of the lenticulation,

Figure 6 is an end view of Figure 4 to show the projection screen and operating handles,

Figure I is a piece of original nlm with transverse lenticulation and Figure 8 a corresponding piece of, copy nlm,

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic representation of an arrangement according to the invention for copying by contact films with transverse lenticulation,

Figure l0 is an end view of Figure 9 showing the projection screen and operating handles,

Figure ll shows the illumination slit for Figure 9 on a larger scale,

Figure 12 is a diagram to show automatic control, and

Figure 13 is a plan and Figure i4 an elevation of a cutting and impressing device.

As shown in Figure l' the lenticulation consists ci a number of closely adjacent semicylindrical lenses l produced by impressing the aide ofthe nlmrupportloppositetbeemuisionl. Iitheg aisaovs apieesoithelensesareground oihsaydownto thedottedlinelofthegureJtwillbeleenthat-- the depressions remaining form a row of parallel stripeswhichcanbeusedasamarkingforadjusting the original and copy films into register. 'nie stripes can be made more distinct by black- Veningorcolouringasshovrninllgurezsothat interstices l between the flattened lenticulation l l'IasmaybeseeninliigureZ It has already been mentioned that transparent and distinctive colouring can be used for the original and the copy film. such as yellow and blue. In projection the yellow and blue stripes are projected on top of each other, so that when they register correctly the stripes appear plain green in the projection. Figure 3 shows the appearance of the projection before perfect registration is obtained. The yellow stripes indicated by left hand hatching l only partly cover the blue ones indicated by right hand hatching l, so that what is seen is a row of green stripes Il shown by cross hatching which each have a yellow fringe I on one side and a blue fringe s on the other. Adjustment must therefore be carried out so as to make the yellow and blue fringes vanish, that is so that the image is one of pure Y green stripes.

Buch an adjustment can be effected by means of apparatus as indicated in Figure 4. The original film II is here to be reproduced on the copy film I2. 'I'he two nlms are guided in gates Il and I! respectively in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawings. Copying is carried out by means yof an objective Il, 'which projects an image of the original nlm I I on to the copy film I2. In the explanations which now follow it will be assumed that both films are provided with coloured stripes for registration in the marginal parts, and that those on the original film are yellow and those on the copy film blue.

These marginal parts are imagined by means of two auxiliary objectives Il and I5' on an enlarged scale on a screen I I. 'me enlarged images are designated I1 and I1 and can be seen better in Figure 6, which will be referred to later. In copying the various parts must be so adjusted that the stripes register in both images i1 and I1'. For this purpose it is necessary for the images of the marginal parts of the films lying against the fixed side of the gates-in the drawings the lower edge of original film II and the upper edge of copyfilm `I2to register. 'I'his may be accomplished by a lateral adjustment either of one of the gates, preferably the gate I 8 for the original film, or of the objective I4. In the construction shown the objective Il can be -shifted as will subsequently be explained.

The next condition to be fulfilled is to have the lenticulation lines strictly parallel. In films with longitudinal lenticulation the lines are as a rule not accuratey parallel to the film edge: they usually form a small angle with it and this angle may be dierent in the two films II and I2. Figure 5 serves to illustrate this divergence. Here the full lines are the lenticulation lines of one film, say the original film II, and the dotted lines those of the other or copy film I2. 'I'he full lines run at a certain small angle to the film edge and the dotted lines are shown at a rather larger angle thereto.

To get the lenticulation lines parallel in promechanical connection 3. .Iectiononeofthegatesmustbeeapableofrota--l tioninitsownplsne. Inthearnngementof operatingpanel (not shown) and'asuitable between it and the gate `Il provides for a fine adjmtment of the angular position of the latter.

When the image I'I of one, film 4vmai-gin is broifight into register by suitable adjustment of the objective Il and the gate Il, the image Il' oftheotherfilmmarginisalsoinregisterprovided the lenticulation is quite uniform over the whole width of the nlm. If this should not be the case, say due to unequal shrinkage of the two films, other measures must be taken to ensure4 registration of the image I'I'4 as well. Registration is secured by altering the ratio of reproduction, i. e. by moving the objective Il. along its optical axis. The required movement is effected by means of a handwheel 2i on the operating panel which is connected by suitable mechanical transmission` to a sliding carriage 23 carrying the objective I4.

'Iwo conditions have to be observed in the adjustmentof the objective along its optical axis. To keep the image sharp on the copy film I2 the original mm II must -be moved a distance corresponding to the movement of the objective. A positive connection between'the carriage 23 and the gate Il may be used as already known for such a dependent movement. Nevertheless in view of the small extent of the maximum shrinkage of the original film there is generally no need to move the gate Il. for the necessary movement of the objective Il is quite small, say of the order of 1 mm. Furthermore the required movement of the original film may be only about 1,600 of that of the objective, so that the movement of the film of the`order of 0.01 mm. which is theoretically necessary is within the depth of focus of the objective. f

The other circumstance which must be borne in mind is that the image of the lower edges of the lfilm I I is shifted when the objective is moved along its optical axis. This can be correctedby a corresponding transverse movement of the objective. The necessary transverse movement can be carried out automatically by the following arrangement. The objective is mounted on a carriage 22, which slides transversely on the longitudinally sliding carriage 23. 'I'he carriage 22 rests against an abutment member 26 by means of a roller 2i. The member 26 is pivoted on a block 2l and can be adjusted by means of a micrometer screw 21 to such an inclination in relation to the block 2l that the appropriate transverse movement is imparted to the objective I4 as the roller 2l runs over the abutment member 2l during the longitudinal movement of the objective. 'I'he transverse carriage 22 with its roller 2l is pressed against the abutment member 2| by means oi' a suitable spring 24. 'Ihe block 22 can be adjusted in a guide 29 by means of a micrometer screw 2l. The'last named screw is rotated to adjust the objective initially in the transverse direction.

Since as mentioned above the lenticulation is not exactly parallel to the film edge, while the films are passing through they gates the lines of lenticulation will be observed to wander across the film as indicated by an arrow in Figure 5.

Now this wandering depends in speed on the angle between the lenticular elements and the film edge, and it therefore becomes'lnecessary to undertake some adjustment to compensate for the difference in speeds of wandering.

The arrangement provided for this purpose comprises an optical fiat 33 inserted in the path of the light between the original film II and the copy film I2. The fiat is pivoted and rests by means of an arm 32 against a spiral cam 3|. The cam can be rotated by means of a handwheel on the operating panel through a suitable drive. Deflection of the plate 33 shifts the image of the film II in relation to the film I2 in a certain direction. The thickness of the plate 33 and the pitch of the cam spiral are made such that the movement of the image by one revolution of theV cam 3I is equal to the width of one lenticular element. a similar system is provided comprising an optical flat 33' with an arm 32 resting against a spiral cam 3l which can be rotated by a handwheel 30'.

Two separate glass plates are shown, but only for the sake of clarity. In actual practice it is preferable to use only one optical fiat and to provide means for swivelling it in either direction. The separate adjusting devices shown are then combined into one, and the combined device is operated by a single handwheel, which is turned in one direction or the other to swivel the glass plate in the required direction.

For the sake of completeness the projection screen I6 is shown in Figure 6 as seen by the operator with the handwheels 20, 2l, 30 and 30' in front of or behind it and with the images of the film markings II and IT' projected upon it. In the example of Figure 6 it is assumed that the projection screen IB is translucent, so that the operator can conveniently observe the markings i1 and I'I while actuating the various handwheels.

Figures 7 and 8 show films with transverse lenticulation in which the marginal parts have been treated in accordance with Figure 2. It will be assumed that the films of Figures 7 and 8 have their depressions filled with opaque material. Let Figure '7 be the original film I I and Figure 8 the copy film I 2. The two films are brought into register by bringing the black transverse lines I1 of film II into. line with the corresponding black transverse lines I1 of film I2. For this purpose the markings are provided on alternate halves of the film margins, as may be seen by comparing the two figures. In film II only the outer half a of the film margin is provided with transverse markings and in film I2 only the inner half b. The other part of the lenticulation on the margin is planed off or otherwise removed. The widths a and b together make up the marginal area c of the films II and I2.

Figures 9 and 10 show an arrangement for contact copying of the transversely lenticulated film shown in Figures 7 and 8. Such film can also be copied by optical means. The films II and I2 in the arrangement shown are fed in contact with each other through gates I8 and I9 past an illumination slit I3 shown on a larger scale in Figure 11. The slit width is so small that any difference in shrinkage between films II and I2 is of no significance. At the marginal portions of the films the slit width is rather larger, so that the two areas I3 and I3 (Figure 11) are formed, which are projected by means of auxiliary objectives I5 on to the screen I5. Just as described in connection with the arrangement of Figures 4 and 6, enlarged images I1 and l1' ot For shifting in the opposite direction the stripes on the film margins appear on the screen I6 asshown in Figure 10.

To bring the stripes of these images into alignment `various adjustments have to be effected in this case also. To secure parallelism of the stripes one gateje. g. IS, is rotatable in its own plane in relation to the other. Rotation is carried out vby means of a handwheel 40 through suitable transmission gear such as a worm 31 and worm wheel 35.

One film can be shifted in relation to the other by means of rollers 43 and 43', which press on the films II and I2 between the gates I5 and I! and the driving sprockets 4I and 42 respectively. The rollers 43 and 43 are mounted on one end each of bell crank levers 44 and 44 urged by springs 45 and 46 against cams 45 and 45. The cams can be rotated through suitable transmission mechanism by means of handwheels 41 and 41' located on an operating panel (not shown).

Since in contact copying the films are preferably fed through the apparatus at uniform speed, an arrangement is provided for projecting stationary images I1 and I1' on the screen I5. In the example shown this arrangement com prises two mirrors and 5I located in the path of the light between the auxiliary objectives I5 and the screen I5. One mirror 5I is mounted on an arm 52 to oscillate. The arm 52 is urged by a spring 53 against the periphery of a cam 54 driven synchronously with the lm feeding mechanism. The shape of the cam 54 is such that the defiection of the beam of light by the mirror 5I exactly compensates for the movement o! the films through the areas I3.

The adjustments described can be effected automatically instead of by hand. For this purpose use is made of light sensitive members such as photo-cells or selenium cells of differing spectral sensitivity. They are so mounted that they are influenced by the projected images oi' the marginal lines, and carry out the necessary adjustments in the known way directly or indirectly by means of relay devices when the images change from the normal condition. Any change from the normal condition is indicated either by the appearance of coloured fringes on the combined colour, where edges of different colours are used, or by lack of alignment of the stripes when opaque markings are employed.

Dliiering spectral sensitivity can be produced -by the particular method of manufacture of the light sensitive members in question (e. g. in photo-cells thel use of potassium or caesium) or by the insertion of colour'filters in front of the members (e. g. in the case of selenium cells). Figure 12 is a diagram to show the application of such an automatic device. The markings I1 and I1 are imaged by an optical device 55 on the photo-cell 55 and according to their relative position give rise to discriminatory currents or voltages in the cell device 55, so that relays in the circuit 51, 51 can take over the functions of the handwheels. In the diagrammatic representation of Figure 12 it is assumed that the images of the registration lines are produced by an arrangement like that of Figure 9.

In Figures 13 and 14 an arrangement is shown in diagrammatic form which carries out the edge trimming and lenticulation of the film in one operation. An impression roll 5l and a counterpressure roll 5l are spaced apart by the thickness of the nlm. The untreated nlm is passed between the rolls in the direction of the arrow. Both rollsareofthesame widthastheatmdardnished film and disbed cutting discs Il and 62 running at high speed are mounted in close contact with their twosides to cut the film as it is passing through and being impressed with the lenticulation. yAccordingly the spacing of the cutters El and 62 is exactly the standard width of the finished film. The shafts 62 and 63 carrying the cutters are oblique to the shaft 65 of the impression roll 58, so that the film 60 is only in contact with the cutters at the moment of impression.

I claim:

1. In an arrangement for making lenticular film copies from lenticular film originals, markings on both original and copy films on the margin beside the picture area at least at one side thereof corresponding to and locatedat the same spacing as the lenticular elements, film gates for guiding both said films, means for bringing the lenticulations of the two films into register which means comprise a screen and at least one objective for projecting on to said screen enlarged superposed images of at least one margin of the original and copy films.

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 comprising adjusting means for rotating one film gate in its own plane relatively to the other.

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 for optically copying films with longitudinal lenticulation comprising a copying objective between the original and copy film, supporting members for said copying objective and film gates, means for adjusting at least one of said supporting members, whereby the film margin may always be f projected' on to the same position on the screen.

4. In an arrangement as claimed in claim 1 a copying objective between the original and copy films, supporting membersfor said copying objective and film gates, adjusting means for compensating difference in shrinkage between the original and copy films, said adjusting means being adapted to move at least one of said supporting members along the optical axis to vary the ratio of reproduction between original and copy film.

5. In an arrangement for optically copying films with longitudinal lenticulation. markings on both original and copy f'llms on the margin beside the picture area at least at one side thereof corresponding to and located at the same spacing as the lenticular elements, means for bringing the lenticulations of the two films into register, said means comprising a screen, at least one objective for projecting on to said screen enlarged superposed images of at least one margin of the original and copy film, film gates for guiding said films, supporting membersfor said film gates and said copying objective, means for transversely adjusting at least one of said supporting members, whereby the film margin may always be projected on to the same podtion on said screen, adjusting means for compensating .difference in shrinkage between the original and to move atl least one of thev copy films adapted said supporting members along the optical axis to vary the reproduction ratio, and means for rendering interdependent the adjusting means for the longitudinal and transverse movements of the copying objective relative to both films to keep the projection of one margin of the original film always at the same place on said screen irrespective of the longitudinal adjustment.

6. An arrangement as claimed in claim 5 in which the transverse adjustment of the objective is carried out by means of an abutment surface variable as to position and shape in relation to the optical axis by micrometer screws and in which the objective support is yieldably urged against the abutment surface throughout its longitudinal movement.

7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 comprising at least one swivelling optical fiat in the light path between the original and copy films to compensate .for the wandering of the lenticulation lines.

8. 'An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 for copying by contact films with transverse lenticulation comprising means for adjusting the relative longitudinal positions of the original and copy films. l

9. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 f'or copying by contact films with transverse lenticulation comprising a transverse slit past which the films are fed at constant speed and through which the exposure takes place. the slit being narrow enough to obviate any deleterious effect due to different shrinkage between original and copy films.

10. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 for copying by contact films with transverse lenticulation comprising a transverse light slit past which the films are fed at constant speed and through which the exposure takes place, the slit being narrow enough to obviate any deleterious effect due to different shrinkage between original and copy films, said slit having widened end portions opposite said markings.

11. An arrangement as claimed in claim. 1 for copying by contact films with transverse lenticulation and continuous movement of both films through a physical iight slit comprising means adapted for keeping the projected image oi the registration marks stationary.

12. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 for copying by contact films with transverse lenticulation and continuous movement of both films through a physical light slit comprising an osciiimage of the registration marks stationary.

Moarrz ADAM. 

